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now plac'd in hearing sermons and discourses of speculative and national things.'

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So far as integrity can go to make a competent witness, the contemporary testimony of Mr. Evelyn as to what he himself witnessed, is entitled to just attention. But although it is impossible not to respect the sincere, yet not very enlightened, piety which displays itself in these memoranda, it admits of reasonable doubt, whether he was altogether qualified to form a just estimate of the true character of the sectarian preachers whom he speaks of with so much horror as usurping the pulpits every where. He has evidently suffered himself to note down in his journal the mere hearsay of the day; since, that catechetical instruction was universally laid aside, that all devotion was now placed in hearing sermons, and that those sermons were wholly of a speculative strain, are assertions which, even if founded on fact, it was impossible he should have had sufficient means of verifying. The minister of his own parish, it is admitted, preached sound doctrine; and the man who had been Admiral Penn's chaplain, is not charged with preaching any worse speculation than the necessity of heavenly mindedness. instance indeed is given, and it is a solitary one, of a me'chanic,' who preached from 2 Sam. xxiii. 20. "And Benaiah "went down and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in the time of "snow;" the purport of his sermon being, as we are told, 'that no danger was to be thought difficult when God called for shedding of blood, inferring that now the Saints were 'called to destroy temporal governments.' Doctrine like this, if it be correctly reported, it was quite as much Oliver's concern as it could have been King Charles's, to take cognizance of; and it is quite impossible that it should have been maintained by any but rank Fifth-monarchy men. But it was enough for Mr. Evelyn to know that these preachers were usurpers, that they had not received Episcopal ordination, and that the best of them were Presbyterianly affected. On these grounds, though he seldom went at all to church himself, and though he had been so little in England since he was of age, that he could know nothing of the previous state of things as to the way in which the pulpits had been supplied, and the clerical functions discharged,-he readily adopts the party calumnies of the day in their most sweeping application, not seeming to have the slightest suspicion of any ignorance or irreligion having an existence in the country prior to the overthrow of the monarchy. It is observable, too, that while he is lamenting over the people's ignorance of the common points of Christianity, owing, as it should seem, to their hearing so many sermons, and their not being taught the Church catechism, he himself discovers the most confused and erroneous notions

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with regard to the cardinal doctrine of Justification by faith. The language which he ascribes to Jeremy Taylor, concerning 'abatements for unavoidable infirmities how cast into the accounts of the Cross,' is such as we should not have expected to meet with from any Protestant that had not stood godfather to two of mother Rome's own children, at the baptismal font at which her own priests presided, and himself adored the Pope's toe. In Mr. Evelyn's religious sentiments at this period, however, there is visible that strong tincture both of the theology and of the superstition of Rome, which characterised the Church of Englandism of the times. It was natural, therefore, that from Sectarianism and Independency he should recoil with instinctive aversion; especially, connected as they were, in his mind, with civil disorder as well as ecclesiastical insubordination. Evelyn was not an illiberal man: his prejudices were strong, because his information was deficient, while his feelings were warm. His attachment to the Church of England proceeded from his piety; it was not the substitute for it: and his very superstition was connected with a certain simplicity of mind. How is it possible to judge more harshly of a man in whose private diary we find it noted, that there was much envy and uncharity in the world-God of his mercy amend it!"

Mr.

One cannot but smile at the proof which is given of the sharpness of the persecution' against the Clergy, Dr. Wild preaching to a great meeting in a private house in Fleet-street, and the Liturgy being used at St. Gregory's by connivance of the Ruling Powers! A persecution of a very different quality of sharpness was subsequently set on foot, when those who afterwards became the Ruling Powers, took up the work of suppressing conventicles in right earnest. But of this, Mr. Evelyn is not the journalist. No justification, however, can be offered of the infringement of religious liberty to which Cromwell lent his authority; and the issue shewed that it was not less impolitic than it was unrighteous. We see how it alienated from the Government some of the most virtuous members of the community, and gave a sanctity to what was in itself a political cause, while it afforded the most plausible pretext for the retaliation it was certain sooner or later to provoke. There is reason to believe that Cromwell was very far from being personally infected with the spirit of intolerance; and he appears to have been tardy in giving into the evil policy of laying restrictions upon the Episcopal clergy; but the edicts in question must be considered as a foul stain, perhaps the greatest stain, upon his administration of the sovereignty. Of this unjustifiable interference with the rights of conscience, there is given the following instance.

⚫ 1657. 25 Dec. I went to London with my wife, to celebrate

Christmas day, Mr. Gunning preached in Exeter Chapell, on 7 Michah, 2. Sermon ended, as he was giving us ye Holy Sacrament, the chapell was surrounded with souldiers, and all the communicants and assembly surpriz'd and kept prisoners by them, some in the house, others carried away. It fell to my share to be confin'd to a roome in the house, where yet I was permitted to dine with the master of it, ye Countesse of Dorset, Lady Hatton, and some others of quality who invited me. In the afternoone came Col. Whaly, Goffe, and others, from White-hall, to examine us one by one; some they committed to ye Marshall, some to prison. When I came before them they tooke my name and abode, examin'd me why, contrarie to an ordinance made that none should any longer observe ye superstitious time of the Nativity (so esteem'd by them), I durst offend, and par. ticularly be at Common Prayers, which they told me was but y masse in English, and particularly pray for Charles Steuart, for which we had no Scripture. I told them we did not pray for Cha. Steuart, but for all Christian kings, princes, and governors. They replied, in so doing we praied for the K. of Spaine too, who was their enemie and a papist, with other frivolous and ensnaring questions and much threatning; and finding no colour to detaine me, they dismiss'd me with much pitty of my ignorance. These were men of high flight and above ordinances, and spake spiteful things of our Lord's Nativity. As we went up to receive the Sacrament, the miscreants held their muskets against us as if they would have shot us at the altar, but yet suffering us to finish the office of Communion, as perhaps not having instructions what to do in case they found us in that action. So I got home late the next day, blessed be God.'

If Mr. Evelyn had not expressly affirmed that some of the audience were carried to prison, we should have been apt to suspect that the whole transaction was a wanton frolic of the officers, rather than an act emanating from the Government. They must have been strange orders indeed, under which the soldiers acted, that authorized them, if we understand Mr. Evelyn's expression, to level their muskets at the persons assembled, but left them in utter uncertainty what to do next, further than to stand by and let the service proceed. Nor was the conduct of the officers less singular, supposing that they had any other object than to divert themselves most unwarrantably at the expense of the congregation. It is clear that there was precisely the same colour for detaining Mr. Evelyn that there was for detaining any other individual present, except the officiating clergyman, whose fate is not mentioned; and yet, after a sort of mock examination, (for the charge of praying for the King of Spain must surely have been a jest,) he is dismissed with an affected commiseration of his ignorance!! It is a great pity Mr. Evelyn has not let us know what became of Mr. Gunning, as well as of the individuals who were committed to prison,-how many were so committed, how long they lay there, and what was the means or price of their discharge. It

could not surely be the case, that Mr. E. never thought it worth while to inquire further about the matter. To us, we confess, it appears extremely doubtful whether any of the party were sent to prison at all. There is a looseness in the whole narration, which shews how much the Writer suffered himself to take for granted, as to that part of the affair which did not immediately involve himself. In any point of view, however, the disturbance created by the soldiers, was a very nefarious aggression. If it was dictated by the wish to intimidate, and the officers really acted in pursuance of state orders, it was one of those half-measures which tend to throw useless discredit on the Government that has recourse to them; and the affair would serve to shew the folly of enactments of which policy and humanity alike forbid the carrying into effect. Those who had the management of such matters in the reign of Charles II. knew better than to deal in half-measures: their pity of the ignorance they undertook to enlighten, demonstrated itself in a somewhat different way.

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The Annus Mirabilis was just at hand. On the 3rd of September of the ensuing year, died that arch rebell Oliver 'Cromwell, cal'd Protector.' Mr. Evelyn witnessed his superb funeral; the joyfullest,' he says, ' I ever saw, for there were 'none that cried but dogs, which the soldiers hooted away with 'a barbarous noise, drinking and taking tobacco in the streetes 'as they went.' Had Cromwell been the most legitimate inheritor of royalty that ever wore a crown, the dogs, we suppose, would not have made less noise, nor the soldiers have made less merry with drink and tobacco on the occasion of the pageant. We transcribe the brief references which are made to the subsequent political changes, and to the part which Mr. Evelyn himself took in the Restoration.

1659. 25 April. A wonderfull and suddaine change in ye face of ye publiq; ye new Protector Richard slighted; several pretenders and parties strive for ye government: all anarchy and confusion; Lord have mercy on us!'

29 May. The Nation was now in extreame confusion and unsettl'd, between the Armies and the Sectaries, the poor Church of England breathing as it were her last, so sad a face of things had overspread us.'

11 Oct. The Armie now turn'd out the Parliam'. We had now no Government in the Nation: all in confusion; no magistrate either own'd or pretended but ye Souldiers, and they not agreed. God Almighty have mercy on us and settle us!'

7 Nov. Was published my bold Apologie for the King in this time of danger, when it was capital to speake or write in favour of him. It was twice printed, so universaly it took.'

10 Dec. I treated privately with Col. Morley, then Lieutenant of the Tower, and in greate trust and power, concerning delivering it to ye King and the bringing of him in, to the greate hazard of my life, but ye Col. had been my scholefellow, and I knew would not betray me.'

12. I spent in publiq concerns for his Majesty, pursuing the point to bring over Coll. Morley, and his brother in law Fay, Governor of Portsmouth.'

ANNUS MIRABILIS 1660. Jan. 12. Wrote to Col. Morley againe to declare for his Majesty.

22. I went this afternoone to visit Coll. Morley. After dinner I discours'd with him, but he was very jealous, and would not believe Monk came in to do the King any service; I told him he might do it without him, and have all the honour. He was still doubtfull, and would resolve on nothing yet, so I tooke leave.'

3 Feb. Kept ye Fast. General Monk came now to London out of Scotland, but no man knew what he would do, or declare, yet he was met on all his way by the Gentlemen of all the Counties which he pass'd, with petitions that he would recall the old long interrupted Parliament, and settle the nation in some order, being at this time in most prodigious confusion and under no government, every body expecting what would be next and what he would do.

10. Now were the gates of the Citty broken down by Gen' Monke, which exceedingly exasperated the Citty, the Souldiers marching up and down as triumphing over it, and all the old army of the phanatics put out of their posts, and sent out of towne.

11. A signal day. Monk, perceiving how infamous and wretched a pack of knaves would have still usurped the supreame power, and having intelligence that they intended to take away his commission, repenting of what he had don to ye Citty, and where he and his forces quartered, marches to White-hall, dissipates that nest of robbers, and Convenes the old Parliament, the Rump Parliament (so call'd as retaining some few rotten members of ye other) being dissolv'd; and for joy whereoff were many thousand of rumps roasted publiqly in ye streetes at the bonfires this night, with ringing of bells and universal jubilee. This was the first good omen.'

3 May. Came the most happy tidings of his Majesty's gracious declaration and applications to the Parliament, Generall, and People, and their dutiful acceptance and acknowledgment, after a most bloudy and unreasonable rebellion of neere 20 years. Praised be for ever the Lord of Heaven, who onely doeth wondrous things, because His mercy endureth for ever!

8. This day was his Majestie proclaim'd in London, &c.

24. Came to me Col. Morley, about procuring his pardon, now too late seeing his error and neglect of the counsel I gave him, by which if he had taken it he had certainly done ye great work with ye same ease that Monk did it, who was then in Scotland, and Morley in a post to have done what he pleas'd, but his jealousie and feare kept him from that blessing and honor. I address'd him to Lord Mor

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